Has anyone been kiting on the italian Lakes? If so where and what's it like in May. I will be over there in the lakes distric for a week and would really like to hire some gear and have a crack.
Hey Kitemad.....take big kites for Lake Garda and Lake Como and cosider yourself lucky if you jag 10 knots of wind. Julian Bethwaite designed the 49er skiff to be fully powered up in 10 knots because the IOC would decide which skiff design got the Olympic slot on trials at Lake Garda, Italy. Needless to say he nailed it.
Silvaplana, Switzerland at the base of St. Moritz is more likely to give you more wind and the local guys are cool as. Go to the main office at the Camping ground / van park, kiters work there and love it when aussie kiters make the trip. You'll also pull huge brownie points with the girls as the scenery is un-friggin-beatable. Take a bloody thick wetsuit and booties as you will be riding freshly melted St. Moritz snow.....but its worth it....oh and a camera.
Cheers
Tezza
PS.....If you forget the booties you'll last 20 minutes max...no lie .
Was there Aug/Sept last year but can only comment on Lake Como. As detailed above it's not reliable for good winds, and when it is windy - it can be gusty.
One of the main spots for kiting on Lake Como is Colico. Easy to get to via the Milano - Tirano train. Beautiful area.
If you do want to take-on the suggested St Moritz option, staying on the same train line, travel from Colico to Tirano. From there take the 'red train' to St. Moritz. This is a stunning trip through the alps.
i will be at sylvaplana in May so lets hook up over there for a kite... will PM you my swiss mobile number.
don't forget your booties!
Lake Garda in Italy can get very strong winds in May, The lake works like a funnel, the northern part reaches into the Italian Alps, so mountains form the wall with little towns along the narrow level stretch around the lake.
The VENTO can blow in the morning from 4am till about 10am from the north, then the ORA can start blowing from the south around 1pm and goes all afternoon.
90% of all Euro windsurfers have probably been to Lake Garda at some stage due to its wind reliability.
I have windsurfed the morning VENTO on 4- 5m sails fully powerd, with the lake kicking up 1.5 m wind waves. But you might be there in a dry spell. Launching a kite can be a bit difficult, off a boat or through a tunnel passing under the main road. And if you fall in, it will take your breath away, fill your bathtub with ice cubes to find out why.
The northern part of the lake is best for windsurfing and kiting,
Malchesine , Riva and Torbole are the spots, where the action is, and its a lot of show with topless beauties , material crazie oldies , bars Euro discos, etc and if you have a budgie smuggler phobia, dont go there
Ray
Yep, Ditto those last comments. Go to Garda, nicest spot is Malcesine because it is way cute, and pizza is cheap.
Will not be too many topless babes when the Vento is blowing, can be a little icy. Strange arse up sort of existence, getting up early for sailing, then the wind disappears.
You can get a decent wind chop going, but I've never seen anything worth surfing
Kited Lake Como and Silvaplana a couple of years ago. Both had strong gusty winds when I was there. Gusty was REALLY gusty. Aparently it's not normally too gusty at Silvaplana, I was unlucky. I was wearing a 5mm wettie, and booties. The strangest thing of all is falling in and tasting fresh water. But I also found I sunk much lower in the water for body dragging due to the fresh water. Chop was big and bumpy. Made me appreciate what I have at home, but worth doing it for the novelty factor and pictures to prove it.
